Page 18 - PC Fall 2023

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PRESBYTERIAN
FALL 2023
presbyterian.ca
Reviving a Spirited Military Tradition
By Eva Barnes, Church Museum Curator, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kingston, Ont.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kingston, Ont., shares a spe- cial historical bond with the Royal Military College (RMC) of Canada that dates back to 1882. “Copper Sunday” was celebrated at the church every May before gradu- ation for over 130 years and dis- continued only recently.
Once upon a time, everyone connected to the military college was required to be present at Sunday worship services in town during the school year. On the last Sunday of the academic term, hundreds of officer cadets would assemble on campus shortly after sunrise attired in their dis- tinctively fine scarlet and black formal dress uniforms. A fas- tidious inspection of “the troops” was followed by a silently precise ceremonial parade. Kilted Scot- tish drummers led the marchers across the Cataraqui River Bridge and causeway, winding past Fort Frontenac and ending in front of
the formidably pillared limestone portico of Kingston’s City Hall.
The parade commander sum- moned the mayor from his cham- bers with a very loud, slow and somber knock upon the great front doors. Upon emerging, wearing his formal chain of of- fice, the mayor welcomed and addressed the officer cadets, who were standing in meticulous rows at perfect attention. The mayor offered his congratulations and best wishes on behalf of the citizens of Kingston as graduation day approached.
The company was then dis- missed to enjoy hearty breakfasts before attending church ser- vices at St. Andrew’s (Presbyte- rian), St. George’s (Anglican), St. Mark’s (Anglican) and St. Mary’s (Catholic).
To draw fur ther attention to their soon-to-happen depar tures from Kingston, some mischievous of- ficer cadets in 1882 agreed to carry large quantities of copper pennies under their tunics inside black military-issued socks. When collection plates were passed to
the back pews, where the scarlet- coated RMC students were seated together at various worship ser- vices, churchgoers were suddenly star tled by the loudly cacopho- nous and repeating din of cascad- ing metal hitting metal.
The initial shock among the congregants turned into such warm farewell applause and good cheer that the custom became an instant Kingston church tradition, continued with much anticipation year after year.
Alas, in a changing world, it was recently deemed expedi- ent to discontinue the Copper Sunday tradition. The Canadian mint started to phase out the circulation of copper pennies in 2013. More significantly, public institutions became increasingly mindful of the implications of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Officer cadets could no longer be expected to attend church services, not even to up- hold a longstanding graduation custom. Copper Sunday gradually fell from favour.
This past year, St. Andrew’s has been encouraged by the regular presence of three RMC Officer Cadets at Sunday morn- ing services. They were drawn to the almost forgotten story behind Copper Sunday, a 19th century custom that had become dormant during the past decade.
Thanks to the interest and en- thusiastically creative initiative of Officer Cadets Kenny Hammond, Charles Howie and Eric McCrack- en, the St. Andrew’s congregation has enjoyed, once again, a won- derfully spirited glimpse into this historic church-and-college tradi- tion from days gone by.
Two masterful RMC pipers led a procession through the sanctuary
A silent red line of RMC officer cadets approaching Kingston’s City Hall on Copper Sunday, 2011.
Pictured (left to right) are RMC pipers Charles Howie and Eric McCracken, the Rev. Dr. Paul Kern with two RMC officer cadets and Eva Barnes, church museum curator, May 2023.
to the front pew at the beginning of the service. Guest minister, the Rev. Dr. Paul Kern, and Music Director John Hall collaborated with the students to create an especially memorable and unique service around a military theme. The hauntingly moving sound of a lone bagpipe and the majestic St. Andrew’s organ performing together reminded the congrega- tion of the distant Scottish roots of their much-loved Presbyterian kirk.
A new church tradition was also created along the way. Two officer cadets carved their names into the back of the pew where Billy Bishop, a restless RMC stu- dent and later to be World War I flying ace, had left his own sig- nature during a particularly long sermon over a century ago.
Indoor photos were taken af- ter the service under the beauti- ful RMC memorial stained-glass window, which was dedicated in December 1919 by Brigadier General Pierson, the Comman- dant of the school at that time. Sunlight streaming through the window highlights the enduring motto for the graduates: “Truth. Duty. Valour.”
Outdoor pictures were also taken for the church museum at the cannon located on the front lawn. This unexpected relic from the Siege of Derry in Ireland in 1688 was gifted in the 1860s to the Warden of St. Andrew’s, Wil- liam Shannon, an ardent Protes- tant Orangeman.
The present-day congregation has been uplifted by the congenial
Officer Cadet Eric McCracken con- tinues an official name-carving tra- dition as St. Andrew’s Music Director John Hall presides.
The memorial stained-glass window in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kingston, Ont., was dedicated by the RMC of Canada in 1919.
revival of this colourfully memora- ble heritage celebration. There are hopes that this special historical gift of engagement from the RMC officer cadets might inspire some others from the military college to continue the unique traditions of Copper Sunday into 2024.
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